Filing-cabinet.



J. R. RYAN.

FILING CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

W ummm j) anoznus,

PATENT @ltlltfltQlhlo JAMES R. RYAN, OF SAUL?) STE. LVIARIE, lVC-LIGAN.

FILNG-CABNET.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19%?.

Application filed February 17, 1909. Serial No. 473,371.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. RYAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Sault Ste. liarie, in the county of Chippewa and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Filing-Cabinets, of'

which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in filing appliances, and the invention has for its object an improved filing cabinet which consists essentially of a vertically extensible and collapsible set of shelves that are adapted for the reception of letters or other papers to be filed and that are maintained in extended condition in a peculiar manner, so as to admit of he papers being conveniently inserted therein or withdrawn therefrom, the device possessing to a marked degree the characteristics of simplicity and durability, being compact in structure and having certain other advantages that will become apparent as the invention is hereinafter disclosed.

`With these and other objects in View that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novel features thereof in y the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a liling appliance constructed in accordance with my invention; and, Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved tiling appliance consists essentially of a box or casing 1 that is designed to be supported at a suitable height upon a table or like base and within which is mounted a set of vertically extensible and collapsible shelves 9., the shelves being secured to the bottom of the box at their lower end and being arranged to be entirely contained therein in collapsed condition. This set of shelves comprises a plurality of substantially duplicate superposed partitions 3, which are designed to be flexibly connected together and which in the present instance have connecting chains t, or the like, secured to the corners thereof at corresponding intervals, so that the partitions are spaced apart to a predetermined degree in extended condition and constitute compartments or pigeon-holes into and from which the letters or other papers to be tiled may be readily inserted or withdrawn as desired. At their forward edges the partitions preferably display certain letters of the alphabet or other suitable indicia 5 in order to designate the respective compartments, so that the matter placed therein is indexed or classified and may be quickly located.

Carried at the upper end of the set of shelves is a cover or lid consisting of a top (3 and depending sides 7, the sides being adapted to telescope with the sides of the box 1 and being designed to be guided into engagement therewith and for this purpose being provided at their lower edges with outwardly deflected metallic strips S. For convenience the box 1 is constructedwith a drop front 9 upon which papers removed from the set of shelves may be assorted, and the corresponding side 7 of the cover is recessed or cut away, as indicated at 10, to engage only the upper portion of the drop front in the closed condition of the parts and to release the same before the cover has been fully disengaged from the box.

The connecting chains L1 pass at their upper ends through openings 11 in the top 6 and are secured together above the latter and arranged for detachable connection with a chain 12 which passes one or more over head pulleys 13 and has a suitable weight 14 depending from its free end to constitute a counterpoise and maintain the set of shelves in extended or partially extended condition.

Before describing the practical use of a filing cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention, it is to be assumed that the shelves are collapsed into the box 1 and the cover is engaged with the latter to entirely inclose the shelves and protect the same from dust or moisture, or the like. Should occa-. sion demand the removal of certain papers from the filing cabinet, the operator grasps the chain 12 or the weight 14C carried thereby, so as to move the weight downwardly whereby to exert an upward tension upon the cover of the box and move the latter upwardly suiiiciently to release the hinged drop front 9, which is thereupon swung forwardly and downwardly, thus rendering the shelves visible and accessible. The upward movement of the cover effects a corresponding movement of the shelves, so that the upper compartment-s are extended one after another, the movement of the cover being continued until the compartment in which the desired papers are indexed is extended, whereupon access is afforded to said papers and the same may be conveniently removed from the shelves. Vhen the cabinet is no longer required for4 use a reversal of the foregoing operation manifestly returns the parts to their normal positions.

F rom the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings it is apparent that I have provided an improved filin g cabinet, which may be advantageously employed in oflices or the like and may be adapted for various purposes, which is of compact construction and comprises to a marked degree the characteristics of simplicity, durability and efficiency, and which consists of comparatively few parts which may be easily and cheaply manufactured and readily assembled.

As a spring is an obvious equivalent of a weight, it is to be understood that I may substitute the former for the latter or employ it in conjunction with the latter, to act as a balance for raising the shelves.

In the preferred construction of the device two oppositely facing vertically spaced hooks l5 and 16 are secured in an adjacent wall or like support and are designed to have the chain 12 engaged therewith in order to maintain the weight 14 in raised or lowered position.

Having thus described the invention wha is claimed as new is:

l. A filing appliance comprising a box or case, a set of vertically extensible and collapsible shelves connected at the lower end to the bottom of the box and adapted to be entirely contained therein in collapsed condition, a cover carried at the upper end of the set of shelves and arranged to telescope with the case, an over head pulley, a chain detachably connected to the shelves and passing around the pulley, and a counterbalancing weight depending from the chain to sustain the shelves in extended or partially extended condition.

2. A filing appliance embodying a box or case having a hinged drop front, a set of vertically extensible and collapsible shelves secured at the lower end in the box and adapted to be entirely contained therein in collapsed condition, a cover `carried at the upper end of the set of shelves and consisting of a top and depending sides, the sides being arranged to telescope with the box, and the side corresponding to the drop front being recessed for the purpose specified, and counterpoising means for sustaining the shelves in extended or partially extended condition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. RYAN. .[L. s]

Witnesses JOHN H. VVA'rsoN, LAURENCE G. MUEI-ILING. 

